Robert Levin, Simon Laughlin, Christina De La Rocha, and Alan Blackwell (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262014120
- eISBN:
- 9780262265843
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262014120.001.0001
- Subject:
- Biology, Evolutionary Biology / Genetics
The work performed by living systems ranges from photosynthesis to prodigious feats of computation and organization. This book explores the relationships between work and the study of work across ...
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The work performed by living systems ranges from photosynthesis to prodigious feats of computation and organization. This book explores the relationships between work and the study of work across many different levels of organization. By addressing how work gets done, and why, from the perspectives of a range of disciplines, including cell and evolutionary biology, neuroscience, psychology, electrical and computer engineering, and design, it sets out to establish an integrative approach to the study of work. Chapters introduce the biological work of producing energy in the cell; establish inherent tradeoffs between energy and information in neural systems; relate principles of integrated circuit manufacture to work in biological systems; explore the work of photosynthesis; investigate how work shapes organisms’ evolutionary niches; consider the human work of design; describe the effects of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction on work–life balance; and address the effects of environmental challenges (stress) on how humans and animals do work. Finally, chapters draw these studies together and point to future developments.Less
The work performed by living systems ranges from photosynthesis to prodigious feats of computation and organization. This book explores the relationships between work and the study of work across many different levels of organization. By addressing how work gets done, and why, from the perspectives of a range of disciplines, including cell and evolutionary biology, neuroscience, psychology, electrical and computer engineering, and design, it sets out to establish an integrative approach to the study of work. Chapters introduce the biological work of producing energy in the cell; establish inherent tradeoffs between energy and information in neural systems; relate principles of integrated circuit manufacture to work in biological systems; explore the work of photosynthesis; investigate how work shapes organisms’ evolutionary niches; consider the human work of design; describe the effects of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction on work–life balance; and address the effects of environmental challenges (stress) on how humans and animals do work. Finally, chapters draw these studies together and point to future developments.
